Soon California will be ours at last
Tell them all to get them
We're a -hittin' for the state
we're a -hittin' for the past
we're a -hittin' for the past
Oh father, oh dear father, let's not go
The scouts refuse to lead
you see them there dismountin'
this we're not discountin'
I fear there's evil waitin' in the past
I fear there's evil waitin' in the past
Oh daughter, oh dear daughter,
Oh, California's mighty, mighty near
So kindly tell them all to quit their stallin'
we're headin' through the pad
we're headin' through the pad
Three thousand feet a drizzle hit my face
just keep them wheels a -turnin'
from which there's no returnin'
Keep them wheels rollin',
Hear that wind a -whistlin'
Hear that wind a -whistlin'
Six thousand feet the snow begin to fall
Let's stop a while and wait
they're foaming at the leather
We're safe as long as we all stick together
Oh Papa, oh dear Papa, look below
The sun is shining bright on Fort Reno
But here are wagons where
We're lucky if we'll ever
We'll spend the winter freezin' in the past